Hi everyone :cheers: My name is Helen, I am 43 and I live in the UK this is my story so far any advice would be great.
I have always had problems with bowel movements, I used to go about 10+ times a day, always with urgency. Since September this has changed. I started having no appetite and feeling really bloated. After a sandwich it felt like I had ate 10 Christmas dinners and I started having really bad night sweats.
My bowel movements changed from being easy to go to struggling to go. It was still loose but just hard to get out. Then I started bleeding not just a few spots, a lot. My rectum was extremely sore so I went to my doctors. She examined me and said I looked very sore and had fissures. She referred me to consultant and said I should probably pay to get seen quickly.
So I went privately and saw the consultant. I was in there 5 minutes and he said he knew what I had before examining me, he looked at my bottom and couldn't examine me properly because it was spasming too much but he said he knew problem was fissure and sent me away with some rectolgesic gel and stool softener, didn't listen to any of my symptoms.
My blood tests came back normal, the gel didn't make things any better so I went back to dr and she referred me on NHS. I ended up seeing same consultant. He still said the same thing and didn't listen to my symptoms (I had written a long list) but referred me for a sigmoidoscopy ( to dot the i's and cross the t's in his words).
10 weeks later (last Friday) I had this done. (it took 6 minutes) He said my bowels are fine, I said what about the bleeding, change in bowel movements, night sweats, bloating and abdominal pain. He said I can't answer that but your bowels are clear.
I also have hidradentitis supportiva which I know can be linked and I have been diagnosed with arthritis in my knees in the last year. I have been tested for menopause( because of night sweats) and it is not that.
So I just wondered has anyone got any advice where I go from here? I am in so much pain going to the toilet, all I want to do is sleep but waking up with a dripping bed isn't much fun. Thanks everyone for listening I know it is long and you all got your own problems going on.
I have always had problems with bowel movements, I used to go about 10+ times a day, always with urgency. Since September this has changed. I started having no appetite and feeling really bloated. After a sandwich it felt like I had ate 10 Christmas dinners and I started having really bad night sweats.
My bowel movements changed from being easy to go to struggling to go. It was still loose but just hard to get out. Then I started bleeding not just a few spots, a lot. My rectum was extremely sore so I went to my doctors. She examined me and said I looked very sore and had fissures. She referred me to consultant and said I should probably pay to get seen quickly.
So I went privately and saw the consultant. I was in there 5 minutes and he said he knew what I had before examining me, he looked at my bottom and couldn't examine me properly because it was spasming too much but he said he knew problem was fissure and sent me away with some rectolgesic gel and stool softener, didn't listen to any of my symptoms.
My blood tests came back normal, the gel didn't make things any better so I went back to dr and she referred me on NHS. I ended up seeing same consultant. He still said the same thing and didn't listen to my symptoms (I had written a long list) but referred me for a sigmoidoscopy ( to dot the i's and cross the t's in his words).
10 weeks later (last Friday) I had this done. (it took 6 minutes) He said my bowels are fine, I said what about the bleeding, change in bowel movements, night sweats, bloating and abdominal pain. He said I can't answer that but your bowels are clear.
I also have hidradentitis supportiva which I know can be linked and I have been diagnosed with arthritis in my knees in the last year. I have been tested for menopause( because of night sweats) and it is not that.
So I just wondered has anyone got any advice where I go from here? I am in so much pain going to the toilet, all I want to do is sleep but waking up with a dripping bed isn't much fun. Thanks everyone for listening I know it is long and you all got your own problems going on.
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